Sharpener for hypodermic needles



Jan. 12, 1960 w. L. WILLIAMS 2,920,426

SHARPENER FOR HYPODERMIC NEEDLES Filed Sept. 9, 1957 WALTER L. WILLIAMS,

INVENTOR.

2,920,426 SHARPENER FOR HYPODERMIC NEEDLES Walter L. Williams, Burbank,Calif. Application September 9, 1957, Serial No. 682,684 11 Claims. (CI.51-98) This invention relates to a sharpener, and more specifically to asharpener for a hollow needle such as a hypodermic needle or the likewherein the tip of the needle is sharpened at an acute angle, or bevel,relative to its longitudinal axis.

Hypodermic syringes as used for hypodermic medication include anelongated hollow needle, the tip of which States Patent 2 is beveled toa sharp point for easier penetration of the skin. It is extremelyimportant that the acute sharpness of the tip is maintained to avoidexcessive damage to the skin and tissues during the injection whichmight result in an infection.

When the needle tip becomes blunt from use or is injured or otherwiseblunted as by accidental dropping or contact with other instruments, itmust be either sharpened or discarded and replaced. Doctors and nurses,who commonly administer such injections, and/or patients who administertheir own injections, are rarely sufficiently skilled to maintain thedesired taper and sharpness of the needle points themselves and unaidedby suitable sharpening equipment. Care must be exercised to retain asnear as possible the original angle of the bevel of the tip and producea sharp point that is free from burrs or scratches. In handling, theneedle is easily bent or broken because of its hollow construction.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new andimproved sharpener for hypodermic needles or the like which needs noadjustment, is readily operable by oscillation by any personwhether'mechanically skilled or not, as well as by the physically oroptically handicapped.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improvedsmall, rugged and precise sharpener which automatically positions ahypodermic needle or the like 'in accurate angular relationship to aself-contained abrasive means to obtain a'beveled point with a highdegree of quality and precision.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a sharpener of thedesired character described that is readily manually operable as byoscillation or rotation of an actuator associated with the abrasivemeans, or of the abrasive means itself, as on the palm of one hand tooscillate the abrasive means against the needle tip while the needle isheld stationary within a body manipulated by the other hand to sharpenand/or hone the tip.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedsharpener which is sturdy in construction, yet economicalto manufactureand capable of facile replacement and interchangeability of partsthereof, for use, replacement or sterilization.

Another further object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved sharpener that is readily adjustable to precisely positionneedles of the character described of assorted diametric andlongitudinal dimensions, yet which does not require any adjustments forthe maintenance and/or operation thereof.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedsharpener which minimizes heat produced during the sharpening operationto prevent injuring or weakening the needle by changing the temperthereof. I

A still further object of this invention is to provide a precise readilyportable sharpener that can be carried on the person in a pocket orpurse to use as the necessity arises.

It is also among the objects of this invention to provide a new andimproved sharpener in one of its embodiments which. includes an abrasivemeans having unlike outer abrasive surfaces, one of which is capable ofgrinding the point relatively severally, and another which is capable ofhoning or polishing the point to a fine finish; both of which areaccurately and readily positioned relative to the needle for successiveuse.

It is a general object of this invention to provide in a new andimproved sharpener for hypodermic needles or the like, a structure whichovercomes disadvantages of prior methods and devices heretofore intendedto accomplish generally similar purposes.

These and other objects of this invention will be more readily apparentto one skilled in the art from the following detailed descriptionconstrued in the light of the drawings and appended claims. a

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a preferred embodiment of asharpener according to my invention showing a hypodermic needle in aposition for sharpening;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken as on a line 2'2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken as on a line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view in elevation illustrating a method ofmanual operation of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of myinvention; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown by way ofillustration, but not limitation, a sharpener generally designated bythe numeral 10 for sharpening the tip 11 of a hypodermic needle 12, orthe like. I

The sharpener 10 comprises a substantially cylindrical,

or other suitably configured body or handle 13 having a' longitudinalgroove 14 extending substantially the length thereof. The groove 14 ispreferably non-circular in crosssection and includes generally verticalbut suitably contoured walls 15 adapted to index and guide the arcuatecorresponding side edges of the conventional needle body, and a flatbottom 16, to non-rotatably receive such nonc-ircular shank or body 17of the needle 12. The groove terminates in a vertical end wall 18 spacedinwardly from one end of the handle.

A longitudinal optionally tapered passage 19 of a diameter toaccommodate needles with the largest intended diameters extends throughthe wall 18 communicating be tween the groove 14 and the outer end ofthe handle to act as a guide for the needles and to support anintermediate portion thereof. The handle 13 is further provided with anaxial bore 21 in which an elongated shaft 22 is disposed.

Said shaft 22 is preferably formed with a cylindrical portion 23 forrotation within the axial bore 21 of the handle and an axial bore 24 ofan adjacent guide member 26. A non-circular portion 27 is provided onthe shaft adjacent to a head 28 for non-rotational keying engagementbetween an abrasive member 29 and an actuator 31. The shaft may beyieldingly secured at the end opposite the head by a resilient washer32, or the like, to urge the handle 13, guide member 26, abrasive means29 and actuator 31 into yieldable co-axial abutting relationship.

If desired, the shaft 22 may be shortened and terminated in a threadedend 22' for retainment in a complementary threaded bore of the handle13. In such event, the cap 31 and the abrasive 29 rotate freely on theshorter shaft 22. Also, if desired, a needle storage chamber indicatedby broken lines 13 may be provided to store a spare needle.

Preferably the guide member as corresponds in outer configuration to thehandle 13, and is provided with a plurality of equally spacedlongitudinal bores 32, 33, 34 and 35, varying in diametrical dimension,corresponding to the most commonly used needle sizes, and selectivelycommunicating between the passage 18 of the body 13 and an area ofeffective sharpening contact to snugly support the tip portion 11 of theneedle 12 thereat.

A plurality of grooves 37, 33, 39 and 40 are prefera bly formed on aportion of the periphery of the guide member 26, adjacent the handle 13,and are radially aligned with the bores 3235, respectively. The grooves31- 24 may correspond in width to the diametrical dimension of the bores32-35, respectively, and in any event form a gauge to assist inregistering or indexing a bore like 32 with the passage 1.9.

For instance, to register a bore like 32 with the passage 19, thegrooves 394=3 can be individually marked with the size or gauge of thecorresponding needles or the hypodermic needle 12 can be positioned withthe shank 17 thereof slideably nested in the groove 14,, with the needlepoint 11 overlying and resting in a groove 41 of the handle 13. Thehandle 13 and guide member 26 can then be rotated relative to each otheruntil a groove like 37 is aligned with the groove 41 to match the needlein size. The needle shank 17 may then he slid backwardly in the groove14 until the entire needle drops into the groove 14. The needle 12 maythen be slid forwardly to extend the point 11 through the passage 19 andbore 32, which will not be in alignment, to engage the outer surface 43of the abrasive member 29 nesting within the conical cavity 36 of theguide member 26.

As previously mentioned, the abrasive member 2% is keyed on the shaft 22and is therefore provided with a non-circular aperture 42 correspondingto the shaft. The member preferably of a frusto-conical configurationwith the outer abrasive surface 43 angularly disposed, relative to theaxis of shaft 22. The surface 43 presents a grinding surface at an acuteangle, relative to the needle point 11, thereby to produce a sharp pointon the needle that is beveled at a corresponding accurate angle whenrotated by the actuator 31.

The actuator 31 may be cup-shaped in configuration also having anon-circular aperture 44 to correspond to the non-circular portion ofshaft 22 for keying the same thereto so as to make a driving connectionbetween the actuator 31 and the abrasive member 29. An annular flange 46preferably extends over a portion of the guide member 26 to providemeans for gripping the actuator for manual rotation, and may optionallybe knurled on its outer surface 47 to provide a better gripping surface.

A practically convenient and preferred method of im parting rotationalmovement between the handle 13, guide 26 and the actuator 31, abrasivemember 29 is illustrated most clearly in Fig. 4 wherein the handle 13 isgrasped by one hand 48 with the thumb of the hand retaining andsteadying the shank 17 of the needle while urging it forwardly in thegroove with a desired force against the abrasive member 29. Thesharpener is then oscillated back and forth with the surface 47 of theactuator 31 in contact with the palm of the other hand 49. This methodis preferred as the constantly reversing rotation of the abrasive means29 removes any burrs which might otherwise be formed if the rotation isrestricted to one direction.

Any excessive heat produced in the needle from the grinding operation isconducted to the guide member 26 4, and handle 13 which can be made ofmetal for such purpose if desired.

As best seen in Figs. 5 and 6, another embodiment of the sharpener ofthis invention as preferred for use on any individual size of needle isillustrated and generally referred to by the numeral 59.

The sharpener 50 comprises a body 51 having a groove 52 conforming incross-section to the cross-sectional shape of the shank 17 of the needle12 to slideably but non-rotatably receive and support the shank thereinin a necessary orientation relative to the abrasive.

A passage 53 is provided to communicate between the groove 52 and anangularly disposed opening 5'4 at the forward end of the body, to snuglysupport the tip 11 of the needle.

A transverse bore 56 is provided at the forward end of the body tointersect the opening 54. A stub shaft 5'7 is disposed in the bore 56 torotatably support an abrasive member 58 within the opening 54, and ispreferably urged upwardly as by a coil spring 59' to retain the member58 yieldably in the opening.

The abrasive member 58 is advantageously disk-like in configuration andpreferably includes on the opposite sides thereof a pair of abrasivedisks 61, 62 of unlike abrasive qualities. One disk like 61, forinstance, is a coarse grade abrasive, While the disk 62 may be of arelatively fine grade-the one to be used for the initial grindingoperation as to form a beveled point on the needle, and the second 62 tobe used for a fine grinding operation as to hone the tip and remove anyburrs.

The disks 61, 62 may be readily removed and/ or rearranged as bypressing the upper end of the shaft 57 downwardly against the spring 59to release the disks. If desired, a finger grip designated by the dottedline 63 may be optionally provided to pull the shaft downwardly for suchrelease and replacement.

The angle at which the disks are disposed relative to the needle ispreferably similar to that described in first embodiment, to effect apredetermined angle for the beveled point usually identical to theoriginal bevel commonly used on such needles.

The instant sharpener may be operated as previously described andillustrated in Fig. 4, wherein the body 51 is held in one hand with thethumb thereof urging the needle towards the abrasive member 58, whilethe abrasive disks oil, 62 are oscillated against the palm of the otherhand. in this embodiment, a bevel is obtained that is substantially flaton the ground surface, and is similarly free from burrs or featherededges.

This invention features the provision of a convenient handable sharpenerconstruction for hypodermic needles to keep them in optimum sharpcondition for use, and to facilitate accurate shaping and sharpening ofthe needle tips. lt moreover features such a structure as is readilyusable with uniform precision results by one not skilled in the art ofsharpening such needles such as nurses, doctors or self-administeringpatients so that the useful life of the needles may be indefinitelyprolonged with attending savings in the heretofore high incidence ofreplacement and costs.

While I have herein shown and described what 1 conceived to be the mostdesired embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood thatalterations and modifications thereof may be made in a manner to satisfythe spirit of my invention which is intended to comprehend any and allequivalent devices as contemplated in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sharpener for hypodermic needles or the like, the combinationcomprising a body part, a rotatable abrasive means mounted on said bodypart, and a guide means having an axle mounted adjacent said abrasivemeans for holding a hypodermic needle or the like in angularrelationship to said abrasive means for sharpening the needle.

2. In a sharpener for hypodermic needles or the like, the combinationcomprising a body part, a rotatable frusto-conical abrasive meansmounted on said body part, a manually operable actuator meansoperatively associated with said abrasive means for rotating theabrasive means, and a guide means mounted adjacent said abrasive meansfor slidably supporting a hypodermic needle or the like in angularrelationship to said abrasive means whereby to produce a bevelled pointon the needle 'by engagement with the frustro-conical abrasive means.

3. In a sharpener for hypodermic needles or the like, the combinationcomprising a handle means having an axial bore, shaft means disposed insaid axial bore, means on said handle for holding the base portion of ahypodermic needle, guide means rotatably disposed on said shaft meansadjacent to one end of said handle, said guide means having a pluralityof longitudinal passages for supporting the needle portion of thehypodermic needle in parallel spaced relation to the axis of shaft meansand frusto-conical abrasive means non-rotatably fixed to the end of saidshaft means adjacent to said guide means for sharpening the tip of theneedle.

4. A sharpener in accordance with claim 3 including manually operatedactuator means fixed to said shaft means adjacent said abrasive meansfor manually rotating said abrasive means relative to said guide andhandle means.

5. A sharpener in accordance with claim 4 including spring means forurging said handle means towards said actuator means.

6. In a sharpener for hypodermic needles or the like including anon-round shank, the combination comprising a body, means in said bodymatching the shank of the needle for non-rotatably and slidably holdingthe base of the hypodermic needle, means in said body for supporting theneedle of the hypodermic needle and abrasive means rotatably mounted onsaid body for sharpening the tip of the needle, said abrasive meanshaving an axle disposed at one end of the said body.

7. A sharpener in accordance with claim 6 wherein said abrasive meanshas a rotating surface which is angularly disposed relative to saidholding and supporting means.

8. A sharpener is accordance with claim 7 wherein said abrasive meansfurther includes a pair of opposed unlike abrasive surfaces and meansfor reversing said surfaces.

9. In a sharpener for hypodermic needles or the like, the combinationcomprising an elongated body, means on said body for non-rotatably andslidably holding the base portion of a hypodermic needle, orifice meansin said body for supporting the needle portion of the hypodermic needle,shaft means transversely disposed in said body adjacent said orificemeans, abrasive means rotatably disposed on said shaft means and springmeans to ,releasably urge said abrasive means axially into said body.

10. In a sharpener for hypodermic needles or the like, the combinationcomprising a body, means on said body for non-rotatably releasablyholding the base portion of a hypodermic needle, said body having alongitudinal passage connecting with said holding means for supportingthe needle portion of the hypodermic needle and said body having anangularly disposed transverse opening, communicating with said passage,shaft means transversely disposed in said body substantiallyperpendicular to said opening, spring means for urging said abrasivemeans into said opening, and manually operable abrasive means rotatablydisposed on said shaft means within said opening having substantiallyparallel outer abrasive surfaces for sharpening the tip of thehypodermic needle.

11. A sharpener for hypodermic needles or the like comprising meansforming a handle, a rotatable abrasive wheel mounted on said handle, andmeans for holding a hypodermic needle with its point adjacent theabrasive wheel, the abrasive wheel having a rotatable surface disposedat an angle to the needle whereby to produce a bevelled point on theneedle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

